soliloquy

noun

so·​lil·​o·​quy sə-ˈli-lə-kwē 

plural soliloquies

1

: the act of talking to oneself

2

: a poem, discourse, or utterance of a character in a drama that has the form of a monologue or gives the illusion of being a series of unspoken reflections

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Soliloquy vs. Monologue

Soliloquy and monologue cover very similar ground, but there are some important differences between the two words. Soliloquy (from the Latin solus “alone” and loqui “to speak”) at its most basic level refers to the act of talking to oneself, and more specifically denotes the solo utterance of an actor in a drama. It tends to be used of formal or literary expressions, such as Hamlet’s soliloquies. Monologue (from Greek monos "alone" and legein "to speak") may also refer to a dramatic scene in which an actor soliloquizes, but it has other meanings as well. To a stand-up comedian, monologue denotes a comic routine. To a bored listener, it signifies a long speech uttered by someone who has too much to say.

Examples of soliloquy in a Sentence

But if it is hard for the theatergoer to catch all the meanings in Macbeth's rippling soliloquies, then how much harder is that task when Shakespeare seems unable or unwilling to unpack his obscurities. —James Wood, New Republic, 26 June 2000

A funny thing happened to Billy Joel on the way to the recording studio recently. "I was walking down the street," he says, "and there was this big guy with long, stringy, greasy hair just talking to the air—screaming, actually. He was in the middle of this angry soliloquy when he looked at me, stopped and said in a regular voice, 'Hey, Billy, how ya doin'?' And then he went right back into his tirade." —Elysa Gardner, Rolling Stone, 10 June 1993

After Allen left, what became known as "The Tonight Show" fell into the hands of a genuine original. Jack Paar was an eminently normal-looking man, a former G.I. entertainer who planted himself at a desk instead of scampering around like Allen had. He would begin his shows in a low, well-modulated voice, exuding a dangerous calm. Then, periodically, but never predictably, he would lurch into disgruntled, pathetic soliloquies, decrying some indignity visited upon him by the network or the press. —Alex Ross, New Republic, 8 Nov. 1993

Recent Examples on the Web

In one of his direct address soliloquies after the show resumed, Spears prefaced Juicy’s words by asking that any critics in the house take note of the gusto with which the actors continued their performances after the unexpected interruption. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024

Because these are not short spews of text Fishburne has penned for us; they are run on sentences and legato soliloquies. —Brittani Samuel, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024

From the March 1979 issue: Arthur Miller on his travels in China As well, my form is one which permits time for what in effect are soliloquies. —Andrew Aoyama, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2024

After a couple of soliloquies are batted about, the idea of staging an actual production is too. —Stephen Saito, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024

Paul has a Shakespearean moment in the mirror, quoting the soliloquy from Hamlet. —Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 9 Feb. 2024

Just look at the number of esteemed thespians who have done incredibly impressive dramatic readings of Bravo soliloquies. —EW.com, 21 Nov. 2023

The legislators who scolded the nervous speakers then went on with their own, windy soliloquies. —Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2024

His farewell to the worm was not unlike the soliloquy of a movie villain about to dispatch the hero. —Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin soliloquium, from Latin solus alone + loqui to speak

First Known Use

circa 1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

soliloquy

noun

so·​lil·​o·​quy sə-ˈlil-ə-kwē 

plural soliloquies

1

: the act of talking to oneself

2

: a dramatic speech that represents a series of unspoken thoughts